Lido DAO has approved a $60 million operating budget for 2026 while launching new yield products and vault infrastructure to offset declining Ethereum staking returns.
The protocol is expanding beyond its core liquid staking model into stVaults and Lido Earn products, aiming to attract both institutional capital and retail users seeking higher yields.
Staking yields on Ethereum have compressed to around 3–5%, prompting Lido to diversify revenue streams and build what it describes as “real-business DeFi” linked to corporate finance activity.
“Pre-market so-called ‘news’ or ‘Truth’ is often just a setup for profit-taking,”
Said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, in an unrelated macro context reflecting broader market scepticism.
Lido V3 introduces modular staking infrastructure, allowing institutions to customise vaults for compliance, custody, and yield strategies while supporting over 683 node operators.
Institutional adoption is also advancing, with VanEck filing for a stETH ETF in the US and WisdomTree launching a stETH-backed ETP in Europe, expanding access to traditional investors.
The protocol’s three-year strategy positions staking as a base revenue layer while scaling new products tied to tokenised assets, treasury management, and onchain financial services.
At the time of reporting, Ethereum price was $1,987.08.